BoxRec

Carlos Deleon for many years was the top dog of the then new and deeply unglamorous Cruiserweight division.

It's sometimes forgoten that this inconsistant Sugarman was a FOUR times world Champion. Here in the UK he is mainly remembered for his painfull bore-draw with a young Johnny Nelson and wearind down Sammy Reeson who never fought again.

But there are some respectable wins on his record the southpaw Marvin Camel, the dangerous ST Gordon, former Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks who had by reports actually trained well for that fight, Michael Greer, Alfonso Ratliff, and the faded Yaqui Lopez.

I never saw the fight but I read that he also gave a young Evander Holyfield a few problems in a losing fight, is this true?

So with hindsight how to you all rate this big, counterpunching Puerto Rican?

I've only seen his fights against Spinks, Nelson and Reeson so thanks in advance for any opinions story etc.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=008657

All in all I think he was a pretty good fighter with the ability to be much better. However, he was also prone to forgetting to train, and daydreaming til getting nailed and put to sleep.

Great counter puncher, good boxing ability, won the WBC title several times and was near the top for many years.

THings against him...never unified, and is believed to be behind Dwight Qawi (who was the unlucky cruiser champ who had to take on Holyfield first, meaning he lost his title before these others cats and never got to rack up too many defenses. BUt he still gave Holyfield a hell of a war before he gave him his title! ) and ofcourse Holyfield, both of whom were champions in the same era as De Leon.

All in all though, he was a good titlist and beat his fair share of good cruiserweights.

BTW some ten years ago Ring magazine had him as the third best cruiserweight of all time (behind Holyfield and Qawi).

Had great skills and boxing ability at his weight. Proper dedication and he could have been a great LW. Prone to party to much between fights.

wsbuf wrote:Prone to party to much between fights.

I wonder if him and Neon Leon went out for a few beers after their fight?

Another memory I have of Deleon is when he fought Sammy Reeson he failed to make the weight at the first attempt. So to help him shed a bit of extra weight he shaved his hair and mustache off.

Deleon is definitely one of the best CW in the history of the division - I'd say a top-6 for sure -

(and actually when Holyfield beat him via TKO....Holyfield had to lose all sorts of weight to make the 190 limit and still was able to out work and out bang Deleon - Holyfield showed his class that night )

I think Qawi would have beat Deleon as well

There was a short while when the little island of Puerto Rico had the monopoly over the bastard Cruiserweight div. remember? Sugar De Leon on one end and Ossie Ocassio on the other were sitting on top taking care of a "notorious" challengers such as Young Joe Louis, John Odhiambo, ST Gordon or a badly faded Yaqui Lopez. I always thought that De Leon had the talent, but lacked the will.